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In an effort to stay connected and invoke some watercooler chat in the virtual world, we’ve begun asking staff for a personal update and signoff at the end of our staff-wide Zoom meetings. Last week everyone told us what they had for breakfast (far too many of us are subsisting on coffee alone), and this week we asked for TV and movie suggestions (for nights and weekends, of course).

To keep things relevant for our professional network, we highlighted staff picks that fit into these categories: Design, Art, and “Given the Times”—but we had to include a few Guilty Pleasures at the end. Happy quarantining!

Design

Several staff cannot deny the architect within, even when at leisure, and indulged Netflix’s Grand Designs, now in its tenth season. This show “presents people who take self-building houses to a new level, following every step of their ambitious plans from beginning to end.” When one of us mentioned this show, somewhat ashamed, others unabashedly replied, “SO good!”

From another corner of the design world comes Amazon Prime Video’s Making the Cut, in which Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn challenge 12 established fashion designers to become the next global brand. Each week’s winning ensembles are available to buy on Amazon, which will hopefully inspire some business casual looks for our return to the office, since WFH robes and day-jamas will be unacceptable.

This last one may be a stretch, but for a more sinister and surreal show loosely involving design, HBO’s Westworld recently entered its third season. Someone had to architect and, like, 4D-print all those simulated realities, right? That show is confusing.

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Amazon

HBO

Art

On our #health-wellness Slack channel, folks had already mentioned that The Metropolitan Opera is streaming past performances, and some Broadway shows are also available on YouTube. Our office manager Lauretta watched “Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” last week, which is more than the composer himself can say. Stephen went to bed early, because the program’s start was delayed due to technical difficulties.

Fialka, one of our associates, let us know that the Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) is streaming its 2020 features and short films for free from April 20 to May 1. Beginning May 29, TFF is also participating in We Are One: A Global Film Festival, “for 10 days of free entertainment and an opportunity to donate to the World Health Organization,” Fialka added.

Piggybacking off Parasite’s Oscar wins, a few of us have checked out Bong Joon-ho’s other films, including Okja and Snowpiercer (which will also soon be a TV show, but was a graphic novel first[!], as Partner and comic book-connoisseur Randy Wood was sure to remind us).

Broadway.com

Wikipedia

Wikipedia

Given the Times

Science fiction reigns pertinent given the times. Jon Mark, one of our senior project managers, has leaned into the sci-fi/thriller genre, offering up 12 Monkeys for how its characters deal with a nascent plague that terminates most of the population (yikes). And still more of our staff has stayed with the post-apocalyptic survival vibe, taking in The Walking Dead and Z Nation.

For a lighter take on the times, another Lauretta selection is the Bill Murray classic Groundhog Day, if a lot of your days are starting to feel the same. Or to break the monotony and isolation, perhaps take some inspiration from Cast Away and paint a face on a ball. Tom Hanks survived that ordeal and COVID-19, just saying.

Wikipedia

IMDB

Wikipedia

Guilty Pleasures, Sports Junkies, and For the Kids!

This last section is our catch-all, because we’d be remiss not to admit that some of us are binging “less heady” pieces like TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé, Bravo’s Real Housewives of various cities, and Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle.

If you’re fiending for sports, ESPN moved up the release of its 10-part Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls documentary, The Last Dance, with new episodes coming out on Sunday nights through May 17. What time is it? “Game time, woo!” Sorry, actually 9 p.m. Eastern. Some of us are really missing some sports time.

To keep little ones occupied, a new dad in the office suggested “Miss Katie Sings” on YouTube, and Partner Kimberly Murphy recently introduced her kids to ‘80s comedies Overboard and Uncle Buck. They’ve since asked for more “oldies” (yikes again).

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ESPN Press Room

Wikipedia

Let us know in the comments or on social media what you’ve been watching to pass the time, or if you’ve got any more classics for Kimberly’s kids!

Joe Sultan, aka the “S” in ESKW/Architects, may not be architecting on essential housing projects these days, but he is absolutely doing his part along with wife, Sandy Chilewich, to keep us safe. Joe was always a problem-solver in architectural practice, and we are happy to promote him and Chilewich as they adapt to help solve the unprecedented coronavirus challenge.

American Agility

We’re meeting the moment by producing vital protection equipment.

At this unprecedented time, we’re making the most of our manufacturing capacity. The Chilewich factory in Georgia is now producing not only flooring, wall textiles, upholstery, and window coverings, but also personal protective gowns. These gowns are critical to mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Made of a modified version of our TriLam backing, the gowns will be provided to front-line healthcare workers in partnership with Fabric Sources International and a consortium of companies committed to addressing ongoing supply shortages.

In lighter news, back in February before remote learning became the new normal, ESKW/Architects Senior Project Manager Ruth Dresdner took a group of her Bard High School Early College Manhattan students to our 1921 Cortelyou Road project as part of her seminar “Reading the Built Environment,” which teaches students to develop a critical approach for evaluating buildings and infrastructure. The partly sunny, not-too-cool day made for a fun experience of considering the construction industry along with its social value and environmental impact.

“I wanted the students to understand that building a building is very complicated, and many people work on it,” Ruth said. “And they did.”

The project is an interesting mixed use of Housing and Assembly. The land was owned by the Baptist Church of the Redeemer, which then partnered with non-profit housing developer MHANY Management Inc. to re-develop the property to more fully serve the community and the congregation. This blend of development and innovation is not unique to New York City, but we certainly have a broad collection of development types, so for high school students to get an up-close look at one such project is definitely “learning outside of the classroom,” which we fully endorse.

The tour began on the ground floor where students first saw the church portion of the project, including the entrance and open sanctuary space. From there, the group took the construction lift to the top floor of the residential portion, working their way down to see how the building comes together. Students saw everything from plumbing and insulation to flooring and finishes in the span of an hour.

“I have always had this rosy idea that constructing a building was a somewhat easy job,” wrote one student in their written report. “That image has drastically changed.”

“The absolute enormity of the task of balancing all these factors while still making the building economical is absurd,” wrote another, before describing an anecdote that involved a plumber having to move piping 4 inches to the right while on-site, so that it didn’t interfere with insulation being installed. “This to me signified the millions of assignments that architects are tasked with, and how simple it is to make one little mistake that could hypothetically ruin the building.” We assured him that with a great team like ours, it’s pretty rare that a building gets ruined.

After students encountered the tangible materials and structures of the building process, they began thinking in more abstract social and environmental terms. On the 6th floor, the building’s continuous insulation and exterior wall system especially captured their interest. By the ground floor, they asked about who would actually be living in these units. One student wrote:

I was impressed that these small studios are offered to homeless women. One of the things that I noticed in each room is that they all had at least one large window. Having this large window highlights how much light is valued in this design. I was also thinking about how these big windows can personally affect its tenants. Knowing that some of its tenants are homeless women and having a non-profit apartment building means bringing in the less fortunate, I think having these huge windows allows them to feel like they are seen and acknowledged by the “outside.” These people might have been stuck in the dark due to several reasons, and giving them the chance to see more of the outside at night from the safety of their room is such a beautiful idea.

The tour concluded with each student receiving a swag bag from the project’s general contractor. The students were all smiles wearing Mega Contracting Group-branded hats, stuffing water bottles and other items into their bags. But their excitement belied the strenuous coursework each of them takes on.

Ruth explained that the school is very selective, only accepting about 1 in 15 applicants, and that by the time each student graduates, the accelerated curriculum has prepared them to pass the regents exam while also earning many an Associate’s Degree (or about two years of college credit). She got involved there because her son was one of the first to attend and graduate, and Ruth got to know the principal as a kind of architectural consultant advising on maintaining the school’s aging facility.

“At some point I pitched a class about these things, and they had me write and develop a syllabus,” she said. “Which took about two years!” And the level of thought Ruth put into the syllabus is rubbing off on her students, if this last excerpt is any indication:

As the tour continues, I have accepted the fact that the only Vitruvian principles for a perfect building that are valued in this project are Firmitas (Durability) and Utilitas (Convenience). This idea brings me back to our discussion in class about whether apartment buildings are beautiful. We argued that most buildings exist without Venustas (Beauty), and usually focus on the utility of stacking people on top of each other. However, as we continued to walk I remembered that Vitruvius defined Beauty as “appearance of the work is pleasing and in good taste.” I kept remembering the fact that homeless/unfortunate people will live here, and I smiled. Then, I turned to the large window again and had an even bigger smile on my face. I realized that the appearance of the work is more than pleasing because of who this hard work is for. I believe that this building is beautiful. Therefore, since it accomplished all the Vitruvian values such as Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas, I believe that this a perfect building.

We are honored and tend to agree with this student, but are mostly thrilled that a new generation of New Yorkers are thinking so deeply about their built environment. We’re also glad that the students had a chance to see the construction site before remote learning and social distancing became the norm. We wish them all well with the remainder of their school year and hope that their peek behind the “construction curtain” was a highlight of the semester.

Given the times, ESKW/Architects has been doing our best to stay healthy physically and mentally while working from home. Starting last month, we’ve been sending weekly office-wide emails with tips for remaining active and stable, and individual team members have been leading other initiatives virtually. These are some strategies that are working for us, so please let us know in the comments what’s been working for you!

Our first email reminded staff of the 20-20-20 Exercise to reduce eye strain, which recommends taking a break from the screen every 20 minutes and focusing on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. A similar rule of thumb is B-B-B for Blink, Breathe, Break.

The weekly emails have also included links to the Headspace mindfulness meditation app, as well as apps that currently include free workouts like Nike, Core, and Carrot. One email offered tips for staying connected with friends and family with virtual dinner dates, game nights, and book clubs–and even suggested going low-tech and sending a handwritten letter or postcard!

Everyday on our #health-wellness Slack channel, Architect Daniel Horn has been reminding us to practice 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation at 2:50 as part of an effort led by at250.org that encourages everyone to stop and take a deep breath together, because stress can lower immune response and social distancing can increase feelings of isolation.

“I actually heard about @2:50 from my fiancée,” Daniel said. “But to our surprise the first time we watched it, our friend Arthur Grau from MIT was the one running them! It’s a very small world.”

In lieu of starting a new #achesandpains channel, one team member asked the #health-wellness forum for tips to ease lumbar strain and lower back pain now that he’s not at his normal workstation. Put a foam roller or rolled-up towel behind your back if you’re suffering yourself, or try standing at a counter for some portion of the day.

Our #lunch Slack channel was always somewhat active, but it is now more so as the team has been sharing recipes and plate pictures. We’re definitely starting to see more fruits, vegetables, and quinoa, as people have been seizing the opportunity to cook more and eat healthier instead of eating out.

Associate Janine Sutton Golub first started sharing shots of her plates while working from home as another way to stay connected. “As we’re pulled out of our normal routines, keeping some routine, even if it’s different, is very important,” Janine said. “I hadn’t made myself lunch in a while. I do miss our office’s neighborhood lunch options, but this is a new kind of fun.”

By far the most fun, relaxing, and engaging endeavor has been Thursday Yoga-Inspired Breaks led by Associate Fialka Semenuik. She had spearheaded similar in-office sessions in the past, which everyone loved, so now she’s taken our practice virtual. Lion’s mouths, downward dogs, and cat-cows–oh my!

Fialka has completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training course after first approaching a vinyasa flow practice as a way to manage stress and exercise more.

“I distinctly remember how good I felt after the first class. I began focusing on whole-body wellness and wanted to share the benefits with others, and that’s how it first came to the office,” Fialka said. “Now, thanks to the partners’ concern for everyone’s health and welfare both physically and mentally, we had the idea to put together health tips to share. I just hope my contribution has been valuable. More importantly, I hope to remind us of the inseparable mind-body connection and to find that one deep, full breath for the day.”

This has been a trying time for us New Yorkers and for the rest of the nation, but we’re doing our best to stay healthy, and we hope all of you are too. Be well and stay strong!

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, ESKW/Architects has been working remotely and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

We have very limited staff in the office daily to ensure mail and packages are received, and that drawings and forms are processed. Staff working from home are staying connected to each other and the work to maintain “business as usual” to the greatest extent possible. We ask for patience while we adjust, but we are confident we can provide all services remotely. Email is the best means to reach us, and phones are being directed to individuals’ personal lines.

ESKW/Architects believes it is vitally important to do everything we can to limit the spread of the coronavirus, and we commend others in the industry for doing the same. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

ESKW/Architects is proud to announce that Janine Sutton Golub has been named Associate in the firm. We are honored by her dedication to our clients, our projects, and the culture of our office, which wouldn’t exist without her.

Janine first joined ESKW/A in 2004 after her undergraduate program at Columbia when we were an office of merely eight people. Three years later, she “left” to attend grad school at the UPenn School of Design rejoining the office at breaks and summers. In the fall of 2012, she then departed again to Boston to be with her now-husband at grad school, but always saving a place for ESKW/A in her heart! She returned to us in April 2016 and has been here ever since.

Janine said she’s a boomerang, but we like to think of her more as a didgeridoo (wind instrument indigenous to northern Australia), because she’s here to stay, and that’s music to our ears. Her professional favorites with ESKW/A include the award-winning Bronx Zoo Eco-Restroom, the Bronx Community Charter School, and our current new school at PS108 in the Bronx. Whether in the design phase, detailing, or construction administration, Janine brings great interpersonal skills to successfully manage all the moving parts of projects. She serves as the BIM Office Manager, offering technology expertise and developing standards for the office. Janine is a longtime member of the office book club and often treats the office to homemade baked goods. (See the blog post about our Pi Day celebration!)

Outside of the office, she loves water sports, biking, and running, especially while chasing around her adorable youngsters Ella and Dean (a third is on the way this summer!). We’re proud to welcome Janine’s positive, hard-working spirit to the leadership of the firm.

At the same time as this promotion, we also announced three team members as Senior Project Managers! See that news here.

ESKW/Architects is proud to announce that Moses Ragasa, Ruth Dresdner, and Jon Mark Bagnall have been promoted to Senior Project Managers in the firm. Combined they bring decades of experience, and their office leadership and mentorship of staff contribute to the teaching environment that sets ESKW/A apart from other firms.

Moses Ragasa

Moses says it’s been too long to remember when he first started at ESKW/A, but our records confirm it was April 2005. Although the office was a lot smaller and the projects perhaps simpler, the culture and overall goals of the work were very much the same.

Moses highlighted Reaching New Heights Residence & The Apartments at Landing Road, The Emerson and The Old School, and Denton Green as major accomplishments during his time here. Although not one to gravitate to the spotlight, Moses doesn’t shy away from complicated construction issues or challenges. Dramatically sloped sites with pile foundations, block and plank towers on a steel base, historic SHPO renovations, and tenant-in-place upgrades are all project conditions that Moses handles with his trademark calm demeanor.

As our in-house Information Technology coordinator, Moses makes sure our systems stay up and running, reminding us all to save batteries and turn off the wireless mouse and keyboards. He’s a conservationist at heart and we thank him for that!

At office get-togethers, Moses can be spotted talking comic books with fellow superhero nerd aficionado Randy Wood over a craft beer. If you need pop culture references, he’s your guy. And please don’t spoil an episode for him, or you could get the cold shoulder. “I accidentally spoiled a Walking Dead episode 2 years ago, and I don’t think he’s ever forgiven me,” affirms Kimberly Murphy. Moses keeps things simple and direct, (“I’m boring and cheap,” he explained), so we’re very happy his deadpan humor and methodical work style are a part of our leadership.

Ruth Dresdner, AIA

Ruth has been with ESKW/A for almost three years, although it feels like she’s always been one of us. She admired our cofounder Judith Edelman’s work on behalf of women in architecture from afar and was also familiar with our New Settlement Community Campus project in the Bronx. So, when she wanted to try something new and different in her career, she came here. “I look for work with redeeming social value for the public,” she said.

With ESKW/A, Ruth is the Project Manager for Bedford Green House I for Project Renewal, School Street in Yonkers for SVWSJMC, NIHOP Multi-Sites for MHANY, and a large-scale cultural facility in Hell’s Kitchen for CHDC. To say she has been kept busy is an understatement. Her clear leadership and teaching style have encouraged and elevated her teams. She’s a true teacher by nature; she even stays connected to academics by teaching an architecture course at Bard High School Early College.

Ruth lunching in Florence

On weekends, Ruth does “what everyone does—[her] laundry,” but her favorite things to do are reading and traveling. The farthest she’s been is Uzbekistan and China (Siberia is next on her list!), and she’s also visited her son thrice in Switzerland where he’s studying computer science. Her daughter runs a hydroponic greenhouse in Industry City and has gotten the whole family into sustainability. Last year Ruth recommended The Leopard, an Italian novel, for our book club, and she brings a sharp, discerning wit to the office. We’re delighted to have her as part of the firm’s leadership.

Jon Mark Bagnall

Jon Mark joined ESKW/A in 2016, returning to his roots in architecture with a social mission after a brief sojourn in the hospitality sector. While the remit of restaurant and resort design may seem worlds apart from public schools and affordable housing, the purpose of the architecture—“to enrich the joy and drama of living” as a favorite quotation from Craig Ellwood states—remains the same.

“The functional and protective nature of our designs are non-negotiable,” Jon Mark said. As the leader of our Codes Working Group, he stresses the importance of applying not only the letter, but also the intent of the law to each unique design situation. But the real and most satisfying challenge for Jon Mark lies in creating architecture that is not merely a response to the special needs of a user group, but is meant to inspire them as an individual person.

Jon Mark is the Project Manager for our largest mixed use project to date: Archer Green for OMNI Development, located in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. Comprising nearly 400 affordable apartment units, retail space, and community uses in two towers totaling over half a million square feet, he said it has been particularly rewarding to see the building grow skyward.

On the festive side of work, Jon Mark contributed Swedish meatballs for the Thanksgiving Potluck and has paired wine for everything from chimichurri at our summer barbecue to aged Gouda at the office happy hours. His spare time is happiest spent building a house (whether his or anyone else’s), messing about in his sailboat (docked either in his yard or on the water), and learning yet another chord on his guitar, hoping to one day string them together into a recognizable melody.